Surgical fastener and associated systems and methods

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an apparatus for installing and removing a fastener includes a handle and a shank coupled to the handle. The shank includes an external periphery, an interior channel, and at least one fastener engagement element at least partially positionable within the interior channel. The apparatus further includes a wire positioned within the interior channel and an actuator coupled to the wire. The actuator is actuatable to move the wire within the interior channel and into contact with the at least one fastener engagement element to move the at least one fastener engagement element into a fastener engagement position. In the fastener engagement position, at least a portion of the at least one fastener engagement element is positioned external to the external periphery of the shank.

1 . An apparatus for installing and removing a fastener, comprising:
 a handle;   a shank coupled to the handle, the shank comprising an external periphery, an interior channel, and at least one fastener engagement element at least partially positionable within the interior channel;   a wire positioned within the interior channel; and   an actuator coupled to the wire, the actuator being actuatable to move the wire within the interior channel and into contact with the at least one fastener engagement element to move the at least one fastener engagement element into a fastener engagement position, wherein in the fastener engagement position at least a portion of the at least one fastener engagement element is positioned external to the external periphery of the shank.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shank comprises a fastener engagement portion comprising at least one opening in the external periphery, and wherein in the fastener engagement position, the at least one fastener engagement element extends partially through the at least one opening. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the fastener engagement portion of the shank is engageable with the fastener to form a first coupling between the shank and fastener, and wherein in the fastener engagement position the at least one fastener engagement element is engageable with the fastener to form a second coupling between the shank and the fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is graspable by a single hand of a user and the actuator is actuatable by said single hand while grasping the handle with said single hand. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a distal end portion of the wire comprises a beveled surface, the actuator being actuatable to move the wire to contact the at least one fastener engagement element with the beveled surface, wherein the beveled surface promotes outward movement of the at least one fastener engagement element away from the interior channel. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener engagement element comprises at least one of a ball and pin. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener engagement element comprises a plurality of fastener engagement elements each separately movable relative to each other. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a plunging mechanism, the plunging mechanism comprising a depressible button, wherein the depressible button is depressible a first time to move the wire within the interior channel and into contact with the at least one fastener engagement element to move the at least one fastener engagement element into the fastener engagement position, and depressible a second time to move the wire within the interior channel out of contact with the at least one fastener engagement element to allow the at least one fastener engagement element to move out of the fastener engagement position. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a collar translationally movable between first and second positions, wherein in the first position the wire is in contact with the at least one fastener engagement element to move the at least one fastener engagement element into the fastener engagement position, and in the second position the wire is out of contact with the at least one fastener engagement element to allow the at least one fastener engagement element to move out of the fastener engagement position, the collar being biased in the first position. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the collar is rotationally movable relative to the handle to rotate the shank relative to the handle. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a swivel rotationally movable relative to the handle to translationally move the wire between first and second positions, wherein in the first position the wire is in contact with the at least one fastener engagement element to move the at least one fastener engagement element into the fastener engagement position, and in the second position the wire is out of contact with the at least one fastener engagement element to allow the at least one fastener engagement element to move out of the fastener engagement position. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shank comprises a first internal shank, the apparatus further comprising a second external shank, wherein the first internal shank is positioned within the second external shank, and the second external shank comprising a plurality of teeth configured to engage the fastener. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator comprises a first actuator, the apparatus further comprising a second actuator coupled to the shank, the second actuator being actuatable to translationally move the second external shank relative to the first internal shank. 
     
     
         14 . A fastener, comprising:
 a head comprising a recess for receiving a first portion of a tool, the recess comprising at least one sidewall and at least one indentation formed in the sidewall, the at least one indentation configured to receive a second portion of the tool; and   a shank coupled to the head, the shank comprising external threads.   
     
     
         15 . The fastener of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one indentation comprises a plurality of substantially semi-spherically shaped indentations. 
     
     
         16 . The fastener of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one indentation comprises a single slot extending about the recess. 
     
     
         17 . The fastener of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of notches formed in the head and positioned about the recess. 
     
     
         18 . The fastener of  claim 14 , wherein the head comprises a plurality of spaced-apart radially outwardly extending arms configured to radially inwardly collapse under a predetermined pressure threshold, and wherein an outer periphery of each of the arms comprises external threads. 
     
     
         19 . A system for installing and removing fasteners, comprising:
 a tool comprising a handle and a driver portion coupled to the handle, the driver portion comprising a first fastener engaging element, a shaft translationally movable relative to the handle, and at least one second fastener engaging element outwardly movable in a direction substantially transverse relative to the translational movement of the shaft, wherein the shaft is translationally movable via actuation of an actuator to contact and outwardly move the plurality of second fastener engaging elements; and   a fastener comprising a head and a shank, wherein the head comprises a recess configured to matingly receive the first fastener engaging element of the tool, the recess comprising at least one sidewall and at least one indentation formed in the at least one sidewall, the at least one indentation configured to receive the at least one second fastener engaging element when outwardly moved by the shaft.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the driver portion comprises a plurality of third fastener engaging elements positionable about the first and second fastener engaging elements; and   the fastener further comprising a plurality of notches positioned about the recess, the plurality of notches configured to matingly receive the plurality of third fastener engaging elements.   
     
     
         21 . A method for installing fasteners into an object and removing fasteners from an object, comprising:
 positioning a first fastener engaging element of a tool into a recess of a fastener; and   with the first fastener engaging element positioned in the recess of the fastener, actuating an actuator of the tool to outwardly move and retain at least one second engaging element of the tool into a corresponding at least one engaging element receiver formed in a sidewall of the recess.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein positioning the first fastener engaging element and actuating the actuator of the tool are performable with one hand. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 with the first fastener engaging element in the recess of the fastener and the at least one second engaging element outwardly moved in the corresponding at least one engaging element receiver, positioning the tool proximate a fastener installation site on the object and rotating the tool in a driving direction to drive the fastener into the object;   with the fastener driven into the object, actuating the actuator of the tool to release the at least one second engaging element from the at least one engaging element receiver; and   with the at least one second engaging element released from the at least one engaging element receiver, removing the first fastener engaging element of the tool out of the recess of the fastener.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one engaging element receiver comprises at least one first engaging element receiver, the method further comprising:
 actuating a second actuator of the tool to move at least one third engaging element of the tool into a corresponding at least one second engaging element receiver formed in the fastener when the fastener is driven in an object; and   with the at least one third engaging element of the tool moved into the corresponding at least one second engaging element receiver formed in the fastener, and with the fastener installed in the object, rotating the tool in a loosening direction.   
     
     
         25 . A locking plate system, comprising:
 a locking plate comprising a plurality of circular apertures with internal threads, wherein at least one of the apertures comprises a plurality of spaced-apart notches positioned about a periphery of the at least one of the apertures, the plurality of spaced-apart notches defining a plurality of spaced-apart tabs each positioned between adjacent notches, wherein the internal threads of the at least one of the apertures are formed in the plurality of spaced-apart tabs.   
     
     
         26 . The locking plate system of  claim 25 , further comprising circumferentially extending slits formed in the plurality of spaced-apart tabs. 
     
     
         27 . The locking plate system of  claim 25 , further comprising a screw alignment guide comprising a threaded channel for receiving a threaded fastener, the alignment guide further comprising a plurality of tabs sized, shaped, and positioned to matingly engage the plurality of spaced-apart notches of the at least one of the apertures and orient the threaded channel into coaxial alignment with the at least one of the apertures. 
     
     
         28 . The locking plate system of  claim 27 , further comprising a drill guide comprising a channel sized to matingly receive a drill bit, the drill guide being positionable within and in coaxial alignment with the threaded channel of the screw alignment guide.